Maike Stoeckel pulled one back in the 45th minute before Roberts came to the rescue by saving Fanny Rinne's penalty stroke midway through the second half.

Germany's Natascha Keller threatened first with a determined run into the circle but good defence from captain Kate Walsh prevented her getting off a shot.

Roberts then smothered a shot from Stoeckel before Chelmsford club-mate Rogers stunned the Germans in the 16th minute with the opening goal, firing high past Yvonne Frank from the top of the D after dribbling her way past the defence.

Olton's Lucilla Wright had two chances from a penalty corner but saw both her original strike and the follow-up saved by Frank.

Germany stepped up the pressure and Mandy Haas fired over before Britta von Livonius' run and shot is stopped by Roberts with Keller's rebound effort also saved by the keeper.

A minute before half-time Silke Mueller drilled wide and that miss proved costly as England went straight down the other end and Lisa Wooding's shot from the top of the circle was cleverly deflected by Walker.

Just after the interval Rogers' pass to the far post was cut out by Frank and in the 43rd minute Germany pulled a goal back from a penalty corner when Fanny Rinne's pass to the right post was converted by Stoeckel.

Germany should have equalised in the 51st minute when Bowdon Hightown's Sally Walton fouled Keller to concede a penalty stroke but the experienced Rinne saw her low effort saved by Roberts.

Leicester's Kerry Williams then deflected wide another driven Wooding pass before Rogers was denied in the circle by a good tackled from Badri Latif.

Seventh place was two worse than four years ago in Perth but Kerry was keen to stress the positives.

"It was a tough game because Germany really went for it. It was 70 minutes of both teams wanting to win it,'' the England coach said.

"We have lost two games out of seven (in the tournament), losing to Japan and Holland, but we were only one goal from making the semi-finals.

"We also beat China (ranked fifth in the world) and Germany (ranked third and also Champions Trophy winners) twice.

"I am disappointed in many ways but I'm also delighted. It has been a very good tournament. There are about eight or nine different players from four years ago, including quite a young forward line, and I think this team can only get better.''